After what I heard on the European shores about the “renaissance” of the Canadian music scene and in particular of the “Montreal Buzz”, I flew to Quebec to check it out for myself and see what the fuss was about. I turned up for the very first time in my life in Montreal, to review what can only be described as a city with a healthy music scene. On Thursday, I had the chance of hanging around “Le Petit Cabaret” (the venue where Emergenza is having the elimination rounds of the competition) during the day and getting through the language barrier on the east side of Montreal I was trying very hard to speak the only words I know in French: Je ne parle pas Francais and so the obvious answer (albeit spoken with a French accent) was: we are bilingual in Montreal so we understand English. After my first embarrassing encounter, I started “studying” the bands on Thursday night and found some great individual players. So nice and enthusiastic were those musicians on stage that I thought that if this is an “example” of Montreal musicians then passion, commitment and fun are the right ingredients for a successful recipe (In this case stereotyping is actually very positive and I hope I’m right). The night started with COF a tight band that looked like they knew what they were doing onstage. QUANTAJAM then looked like a bunch of snowboarders that picked up their instruments and showed what real fun onstage is like. Step up THE UNCIVILIZED, a punk band with an edge. Real punks from the days gone. 2 minute songs about politics and drinking. My personal favourites for the night. CALM BEFORE was a semi-acoustic band with great tunes and melodies. PROVIDENCE was up next and the audience warmed up to them by showing the true Quebec spirit. PILSENER were up at 10:30 and brought the house down. The nicest blokes (sorry….I mean guys) you could meet and great showmen as well………can’t ask for more really! ONE STEP FORWARD finished off the evening with a brilliant rock and roll set that left us wanting more. Friday came and I by now, I was used to hearing French being spoken around me. On the night, RAPE started with a blistering set that made Marylin Manson look like a bunch of corporate kids with a puppet master above them…..it was brilliant and full of energy. SHALLOW EYES were up next. This was by far the tightest band all week end. The bass player was truly talented and swapped bass and keyboards duties like we change our daily underwear…..absolutely amazing. By now the evening was shaping quite nicely. DELICIUOS LITTLE BOYS were the punk band for the evening (there’s always one true punk band a night, isn’t there) and did not disappoint….all of what you could expect was there. VECTUER K was a French singing band with a terrific singer and a great band with seasoned musicians……and the ladies in the audience loved the singer for some strange reason…….could anybody explain to me this reason? I am envious and want to know. Thanks. NOTHING AT ALL, MAURICE POLLACK (a francophone singer song writer with a very original twist) and ART OF LIFE closed a great Friday night full of talent and fun. You had to be there to truly appreciate what this leg of the Emergenza festival had to offer. And so Saturday night came. The biggest attendance Montreal have seen so far this season, was the start for a night of rock and roll. SIDHARTA started with a nirvana influence set that sent people back in time with great memories of us grunge kids of the arly ninetes. MANDRAKE had a terrific singer with a powerful voice and able musicians. Step up ELFICUS. The most organized band of the week end with loads of merchandise was ready to take the stage. This singer was truly phenomenal. He could reach the highest notes without breaking up (but shattering the pint glasses at “le petit”) and could sing comfortably in any pitch. A class act. Great band with a skillful singer that could teach the “so called” rock singer of today a thing or two. VEETO was next and despite tech